Extensible chute



. Aug. 26, 1941. w. E. BLIN EXTENSIBLE CHUTE Filed uarch '7,- 1940 3Sheetss--Sheeil 1 5, mardEW MIM," A

W. E. BLAIN EXTENSIBVLE CHUTE Filed March 7, 1940 Aug. 26, 1941.v

I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l E l Patented Aug. 26,l 1941 vumTle'zD STATES PATENTOFFICE 2.253.604 Ex'raNsmLE CHUTE winmx a. vm Buren. Ark. ApplicationMarch 7, 1944i, rSerial No. 322,858

|(cl. 227-41) e 15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in life saving apparatus,although this designation does not denote a true scope of usethereof.When considering the invention as an extensible chute the variety of itspossible uses embraces lifesaving, fire-fighting, conveying; elevatingand analogous uses. Therefore on the latter principle this descriptionis confined to the use of the apparatus as a life-saving device in orderthat one of its modes of employment will be fully understood.

In attempting to save the life of an endangered person it is necessaryto reach him with a contrivance of some sort in order that he will beconducted to a place of safety. This is true whether the person istrapped in a burning building or is thrown into the sea. In either caseit is highly desirable to have a contrivance with which to reach outover the intervening space and provide said person with a means ofescape. 'Ihe instant invention is founded upon the use of aflexible-rigid strip which is flexible from the standpoint of itscapability of being wound up, and rigid from the standpoint of itsremaining perfectly stiff when extended out from its point of anchorage.With this premise in mind the objects of the invention are as follows:

First, to provide an apparatus which in the interest of brevity isentitled an extensible chute but which is not confined to any suchlimitation in its use as its designation might imply, said chute beingprimarily intended for use as a lifesaving device in which respect it isan-adjunct to fire-fighting apparatus.

Second, to provide an apparatus of the foregoing generic aspect,fundamentally comprising an extensible member of the flexible-rigidtype, said member consisting of a strip, usually of metal, which isself-sustaining when extended, because of its cross-sectionallyconcavo-convex form.

Third, to provide a chute of the foregoing character which is capa le ofbeing used either as a rope ladder suppo or as a water tower, or both4at the same time, all as clearly brought out below.

Fourth, to provide an extensible chute which is capable of quick andeasy adjustment both vertically and laterally so that its free terminalis capable of being directed to the position of the endangered person ina matter of very short time.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the base of the 55 perfectly flatextensible chute, particularly illustrating the actuating mechanism.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. lillustrating the chute guide.

yFigure 4 is a plan view of most of the structure illustrated inFig. l.

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4,particularly illustrating the brakes.

Figure 6 is a partially/sectional and elevational view illustrating alife-saving feature more in detail.

Figure '7 is a plan view of the extensible chute, illustrating its useas a water tower.

Figure 8 is a detail` plan view of the free teri minal on a scaleslightly enlarged from the showing in Fig-'7.

Figure 9 is a view on the order 0f Fig. 8, but showing how a rope laddermaybe laid along the trough of the chute.

Figure 10 is a cross section taken on the line IO-IO of Fig. 8. l *AFigure 11 is a cross section taken on the line Il-II of Fig..8. f

Figure l2 is a longitudinal section taken on the Iline I2-l2 of Fig. 8.

Figure 13 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 12 but illustrating lthesuspension of a rope ladder from the freeterminal of the chute.

Figure 14 is a sectional view of a portion of the chute illustrating alaminated support.

Figure 15 is a cross section taken on the line |5-I5ofFig.l4.

In .carrying out' the invention use is made of a chute I which is hereinknown as of the flexiblerigid type. This apparently paradoxical term iscorrectly expressive of the nature of the chute because while the latteris perfectly rigid when extended yet it is inherently so flexible thatit is capable of being wound upon a drum. The reason for its nature liesin the fact` that it is made of thin flexible metal, preferably steel,vof concavo-convex form in cross-section.

This latter form (Fig. 4) has its additional usefulness in the provisionof a trough down which a person can slide, or down which inert `objectscan be slid as on a conveyor. This chute has its lower portion 2'(Fig. 1) wound upon a drum l. Prior to the beginning of the winding saidchute takes a gradual bend at l, and as it bends its cross-sectionalcurvature disappears so that the convolutions of y'the wound portion 2lie upon the drum. This bending is facilitated to some degree by a xedguide l (Fig. 3).

Said guide is'rigidly supported by standards 3 which are bolted down orotherwise secured to a horizontally pivoted table 1. The horizontalpivoting is derived from the mounting of boxes 3 on the nether side ofthe table 1 upon a horizontal shaft 3 which is set at its ends insupports Il).

It is immaterial whether the boxes 3 turn upon the shaft 8 or the shaftis made to turn in the supports Ill. In the former instance the shaftwould be clamped to the supports while in the secondinstance the boxes Iwould be clamped to the shaft. In either case the pivoting of the tableis horizontal, but its permissible motion is in a vertical plane. Thisallows for the raising and lowering of the vchute I whenxthe latter isextended, as in Figs. 1 and 9.

'I'he bottom terminal II of the chute I is an- 20 chored in any desiredway. A preferred mode of anchorage is to slot the shaft I2 of the drum 3as at I3, for the admission of said terminal II after the latter hasbeen slipped into a passageway I4 leading from the face of the drum to25 a place of registration-with the slot I3. In any case it would bedesired and necessary to firmly anchor the terminal I I so as to avoidany chance of its ever becoming loose.

The drum 3 and wound chute portion 2 are 30 housed i'n a casing which isrigidly attached to standards I6 bolted tov the table 1, and beingerected therefrom as shown in Fig. 1. The holding of the casing I5 isaccomplished by a long cross bolt I1 (Fig. 2) which goes through ears Ilthat are pendant from the casing, and then through bosses i9 on thestandards before the nuts are screwed home. Other but short bolts 2i arescrewed through bosses 22 on the standards into the adjacent heads 23 ofthe casing Il (Fis. 6). y

Thus the casing I5 is held'very firmly during the windingjand unwindingof the chute I. The latter has access to the interior of the casingthrough a sufficiently large opening 24 (Fig. 1). The nature of theVtrough I is such that there must be insurance against the possibilityof the Wound portion 2 slipping to any undesirable de gree. It is truethat other provisions are made against this contingency, but from thestandpoint of keeping the convolutions tight. use is made of anenveloping band 25 (Fig. 1) which is anchored at 2B at one end andcurved at the other free end 2'I'I This band is pressed upon by a numberof stout leaf springs 23. These springs are contained by the casing I5to which one end of each is riveted at 29. 'I'he other end of eachspring rides free against the interior of the casing, but the originaltention of each spring is such that it tends to bow inwardly to quite alarge extent, thus always insuring adequate pressure against theenveloping band. The latter remains constantly adjusted to the size ofthe wound portion 2 whether large or small.

Winding and unwinding of the chute is accomplished by a crank on one endof the shaft I2 (Fig. 4). The use of a brake 3I (Fig. 5) in conjunctionwith this shaft is desirable. After the shaft has been turned thedesired amount, the brake is set, thereby to hold the shaft fromundesired turning. The latter carries a brake drum 32. This has anexternal contraction band 33 applied to it, said band having a chute 34in actual contact with the periphery of the drum. One end of theband isanchored at 3i (Fig. 5) 75 toacasting. Thiscastlngissecuredatl'l to anappropriate portion of the table It includes at least one ear 33, towhich the brake lever 33 is pivoted at 4l. Said lever has a short arm 4|to which the free end of the band 33 is attached. The swinging of theleverA either loosens or tightens the brake band and the ad- Justments-of the lever are set by means of a detent 42 which engages the teeth ofa quadrant 4'3 made integral with the casting 33.

It is obvious that the turning of the shaft I2 will extend the chute I,or retract it, depending upon the direction of turning, but thesefunctions are preferably transferred t a movingl and gripping mechanism44 (Fig. 1) largely confining the function of the shaft I2 to theelimination of slack in the convolutions 2. But it is necessary tooper'ate the shaft I2 in conjunction with the mechanism 44 because inactual practice the chute I is quite large and must be manipulated fromthe two points so as to insure a proper performance.

The mechanism 44 consists of two shafts 4I, and 43, one below and theother above the chute I. `Each of these shafts has a core 41 which isfaced with a rubber covering 43. 'Ihe result oi this construction is aroller below and above the chute. said rollers now being designated 43,53, for distinction.

It is conceivable that each of the rollers may consist of a solid rubberbody attached directly to the respective shaft. However, because of thesize of the rollers, it is preferred to use a core because if and whenthis is made of wood. the constructional cost is lessened to aconsiderable degree. These rollers are contoured to fit thecross-section of the chute I. Consequently the roller 4l is concave(Fig. 2) while the roller I3 is convex (Fig. 4). Obviously the roller 43constitutes the major support of the chute I inasmuch as itis situatedunderneath and carries muchof the weight of the chute while the rollerll is largely in the nature of a holddown since it works in the troughof the chute.

These rollers are in tight frictional contact with the chute. The shafts4l, 43, are intergeared at II (Fig. 4). One of the shafts carries acrank l2 (Fig. 4) for turning. The turning of the one shaft causes theturning of the other shaft by means of the gearing, the directions ofturning` always being opposite. The result is either an extension orretraction of the chute and since the mechanism 44 is situated outbeyond the bend 4 and its contiguous guide i. it is regarded as being inthe best possible position for an eifective manipulation of the chute inthe manner named.

Now it is readily seen that main reliance for the extension andretraction of the chute is best put upon the mechanism 44. If theturning of the drum 3 were depended upon, especially for the extensionof the chute. it is conceivable that some buckling of the convolutions 2might occur in the casing Il despite the holding function of the band25. At the same time the drum and shaft 3, I2, are necessary to assistin feeding out and coiling the chute so said drum. shaft and mechanism44 aredesirably worked in combination for the best handling of thechute, as previously suggested.

Brackets i3 provide bearings for the shafts 4l, 43. These brackets arebolted down on the tablefl. In order to accomplish the gripping functionof the mechanism 44, one of the shafts, preferably 4 3, is furnishedwith a brake I4 (Pig.

position to slip past the rubber faces of the rollers in eitherdirection.

The chute I is desirably guyed when extended (Fig. '1), especially to aconsiderable degree. For this purpose wires 88 are used. There is a pairof these wires, each being wound at one end upon an independent drum I8(Fig. 4) on the virtual extremities of a common cross shaft 88. Thisshaft is journaled in bearings 8| which constitute the top terminals ofbrackets 82 bolted to and erected from the heads 28 of the casing I(Fig. 6). At least one of the ends of the shafty 88 is squared(preferably both as in Fig. 4) for the application of a crank 88, sothat the shaft can be turnedf A pawl and ratchet (commonly designated88), serve to hold the drums 58 and wires 58 at tight adjustments. Thelatter are accomplished when the hooks 8l at the other ends of the wires(Fig. 1) are fitted into eyes 68 at the free terminal 81 of the chuteI'.

Said free terminal has a long slot 88. Actually this slot constitutes anopening large enough for the passage of a person. The result of the slot88 is a pair of arms 88. These arms are kept rigid by the extension ofthe side curvatures of the chute virtually the full length of the arms.In other words, the side portions of the chute that -extend along thearms function as reinforcing ribs.

Said arms are curled at 18 (Fig. 12) to compose hooks. These hooks aredesirable for attaching the top of the chute to a window sill 1I or someequivalent of it. Aperson trapped in a burning building of which thissill isa part, can easily step across the sill and through the opening68 onto the rungs 12 of a rope ladder 13. This ladder'is suspended fromeyes 18 at almost the very extremity of the chute, use being desirablymade of large hooks 15 with which to make the attachment.

A step 16 is used in conjunction with the chute I at the free terminal81. The latter is intended to embrace a considerable area, but would notbe considered as extending below the step 18.

Said step is firmly amxed to the chute by welding, and it is braced bybrackets 11 which insure the support of any normal weight. The step isdesirably flanged at 18. In practice the distances of the bottom of theslot 88 and the step 18 from the hook extremity will be so proportionedthat a person can pass through the window at the sill 'II onto the step11 preparatoryA .to passing through the opening 88 to the rope ladder.

Usually the rope ladder 18 will be employed -where fire is emerging froma lower window, it

is proposed to use the troughgof the chute I as a receptacle, so tospeak, for the rope ladder.

,In this c ase the rope ladder is led as seen in from the use ofthechute as a lifesaving device. This departure converts the chute into amodied water tower. A hose 18 is' laid in the trough of the chute. Ahole 88 in the step 18 provides for the e through the hose. 'I'he nozzle8| of the latter is supported contiguously' to the opening 88 by 'aclamp 82 which holds the hose down. The clamp can be of any desired formwhatsoever, a suggested arrangement consisting of the hinged elementshown in Fig. 10, the free end of which is adapted to be secured by aswinging bolt and nut 82.

All of the assemblage embraced by the foregoing description reading upfrom the table 1, is capable of adjustment as a unit when said table istilted on the axis of the shaft 8. I'he tilting is done through a lgearquadrant 88 (Fig. 1) which is driven by a pinion 88 in mesh therewith.The quadrant can be as great in angular extent as desired, naturally thegreater the extent of the quadrant the greater will be the amount ofangular adjustment of the table 1. The quadrant may be attached to thetable in any lpreferred way, for example, by the flanges 88 and bolts 81(Figs. 1 and 2). A shaft 88 carries the pinion- 85. The shaft isturnable by a crank 88 and the adjustments are held by a dog 88 which ispivoted at 8| to a bracket 82 extending out from the bearing 88 of theshaft.

Said bearing and the supports I8 are carried by a turntable 88. "Thisturntable is disposed horizontally, and it mainly comprises a large wormgear inasmuch as it has teeth 85 of that description on most of itscircular perimeter (Fig. 2). Said turntable has a pair of extensions 88to which the supports I8 are bolted at 81,. Thextensions are formed byforking the turntable at 88. 'I'he result of the fork is a passagewayforthe gear quadrant 88. The latter is operable in the passagewayregardless of the angular position of the turntable 88 and the lattercan be turned with the chute I in any of its extended positions, whilethe chute is in the process of extension.

'I'he turntable 88 is large enough for several men to stand upon for themanipulation of the various cranks. But at this point it is desired tomodify the implication of manual operation which the various cranksconvey because `there will be instances when the shafts to which thecranks are now attached will be worked to better advantage by drivenmachinery. The use of such driven machinery is regarded as an obviousexpedient, and for that reason hand cranks are shown merely to simplifythe illustration.

A worm gear 88 meshes with the teeth 85 (Fig. 2), the shaft |88 of saidgear also carrying a crank I8| for its operation. This shaft could wellbe operated by a mechanical drive because of the considerable weightwhich it is required y to move. The bracket supports |82 of the shaftFig. 9. The concave shape of the chute will insure retaining the latterso that a person can walk down the ladder in the chute without having topass through any danger zone.

Figures 7 and 12 illustrate one main departure 75 |88 are fastened tothebed |88 of a truck or equivalent conveyance. Said bed might well be apart of the chassis of an apparatus such as is commonly seen for themounting of ladders in fire-lighting apparatus.

An opening |88 (Fig. 1) which in actual practice is not essential, makesroom for the securing means |88 with which the stud |88 of the turntable88 is held to a fixed ball race |81. Said race is amxed to the bed |88by bolts |88.,Y It

supports a series of balls |88 on which the netherj.

race ||8 of the turntable 88 runs. l The arrangement in Fig. 6 isemployed in. suc

instances wherein the chute I is used as a safety slide for anendangered person. The disposition of the latter in Figs. 9 and 13provide alternate modes of escape when a person isiable to walk down aladder. The arrangement in Fig. 6 provides for his sliding to safety inthe event of his either being injured or too timid to. negotiate theladder. A curved shield I II (Fig. 6) is used in conjunction with thechute I, said shield being cross sectionally contoured to fit theconcavity of the chute. Said shield is firmly supported by a bracket II2from the casing Il to heads 23 of which the bracket is riveted at III.

'I'he shield III is higher than any of the actuating mechanism in Fig.l, and necessarily so in order that the person may slide directly into alife-saving net Ill (Fig. 6). 'This net is intended to be of anyconventional order and its manner of support is of no immediate concern.It is sufllcient to note that the net is located close to thetake sideIII of the shield so that a person sliding over the latter is directlycaught by the net.

Attention is now directed to Figs. 14 and l5 which disclose a possiblereinforcement of the chute now designated Ia. The latter is intended tobe made in such a way that it will possess ample strength when composedof single ply metal. By way of digression it should be noted that thechute tapers in width (Fig. 7) from its base at the drum 3 to its freeterminal I1. But the chute is also intended to be tapered in thicknessbetween two extremes. This taper is denoted mainly in Fig. 14, whichview is also used for a showing of a laminated support IIS.

'I'his support is much on the order of the leaves of a spring. They aresuccessively shorter toward the base of the chute Ia, but all areinterfltted because of being cross-sectionally curved in agreement withthe contour of the chute. These laminations will be wound on the drum 3with the chute, and when they are thus wound vthen the enveloping band25 has the added importance of keeping the free edges of the laminationsfrom extending out from the convolutions of the wound portion 2.

'I'he operation is readily understood. The ap, paratus is mounted on thebed Il! of a truck in the instance of its being an adjunct to a cityfire-fighting apparatus. It is readily conceivable that the nature ofthe chute I insures its extendingvout in a perfectly rigid manner. Whenthus extended it is used either as a ladder support (Figs. 9 and 13) ora hose support (Fig. 7) Another use is that of a slide as seen in Fig.6.

It is intended that the chute will also be well -adapted to use aboardship. A person swept into the water can' be rescued by extending thechute until its free terminal 81 is moved out within reach. It isthought unnecessary to enlarge upon other uses of the chute becausethese will and must suggest themselves to the actual practicalapplication of its principles.

I claim:

1. Apparatus ofthe character described comprising a cross-sectlonallyconcavo-convex chute of thin flexible material, means in reference towhich one end of the chute is windable and unwindable, actuatingmechanism to retract and extend the chute, said mechanism includingrollers which respectively are convex and concave to conform to thecross-sectional shape of the chute and being in close contact therewithto grip it ilrmly and hold it in any of its positions of extension, andguide means located beaasaeos tween the winding means and said actuatingmechanismI to establish a predetermined pitch of the chute and to aid inflattening the concaveconvexity of the chute immediately in .advance ofits`windings. 1

2. Apparatus of the character described com prising a cross-sectionallyconcavo-convex chute of thin yflexible material. means in reference towhich one end of the chute is windable and unwindable, actuatingmechanism to operatev the chute for its retraction and extension, saidmechanism including a pair of rollers peripherally shaped to nt therespective concave and convex cross-sectional contours of the chute andgripping the surfaces of said chute tightly to hold the chute in any ofits positions of extension, and guide means located between the windingmeans and said actuating mechanism being set at a pitch to aid inbending the chute prior to its winding. also to flatten theconcavo-convex cross-section in 'the bending zone.

3. Apparatus of the ycharacter described comprising a flexible-rigidchute. means in reference to which one end of the chute is windable andunwindable because y-of its exibility, means exerting pressure upon .thewound portion of the chute to tend to eliminate slack, and actuatingmechanism including rollers tightly engaging opposite sides of the chutefor its retraction and extension in respect to the winding and pressuremeans, said rollers serving to hold the chute in any of itspositionsrvof extension.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a exible-rigid chute,means in reference to which one end of the chute is windable andunwindable because of its ilexibility, an enveloping band surroundingthe wound portion of the chute. being anchored at one end and free atthe other end .to allow for the enlargement and reduction in size ofsaid wound portion, plural pressure means bearing on the band.. keepingit lin contact with said wound portion to eliminate slack, and combinedactuating and gripping means for the chute including rollers which areoperable to retract and extend the chute and are in tight engagementwith opposite surfaces of the chute to hold it in any of its positionsof extension.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a flexible-rigidchute, a drum on which one end ofthe chute is windableand unwindablebecause of its flexibility thereby to take up and let out the chuteconvolutions, actuating mechanism including rollers in tight contactwith opposite sides of the chute, being operable to retract and extendthe chute in reference to the drum, means with which to turn the drum,means with which to turn the rollers of the actuating mechanism. andseparate brake devices for the drum and actuating mechanismrespectivelyl to hold the drum and rollers stationary.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a substantiallyhorizontal tiltable table, a revoluble drum and a pair of revolublerollers .both mounted upon the table to assure a firm foundationtherefor, a flexible-rigid chute tightly gripped between the rollers andhaving a contiguous end wound upon the drum, the other and free end ofthe chute extending out from the rollers and being self-sustainedbecause of the rigid character of the chute, guide means also carried bythe table. being located between the drum and rollers, and set at apitch in reference to lthe table to establish a predetermined pitch aflexible-rigid chute tightly gripped between thel rollers and having acontiguous end wound upon lthe drum, the other and free end of the chuteextending out from the rollers and being selfsustained because of therigid character of the chute, guide means located between the drum androllers, being set at a pitch in reference to .the ltable to establish apredetermined pitch of extension of the free end of the chute, aturntable on which the tiltable table is mounted, and means carried bythe turntable being Operable upon the tiltable table to shift theposition of the free end of the chute.

8. Apparatus of the character described comprising a horizontallyturnable turntable, a horizontal shaft carried thereby, a table mountedon said shaft and therefore vertically tiltable, separate means foractuating the turntable and the tiltable table, providing for -theadjustments of said tables in the horizontal and vertical planes, a drumanda pair of rollers mounted upon the tiltable table and thereforesubject to the respective adjustments of the tables, a iiexible-rigidchute tightly gripped by the pair of rollers and having its contiguousend wound on .the drlml, means for operating the drum and therollers toextend and retract the other and free end of the chute, and a guidefixed upon the tiltable table between the `drum and pair of rollers,being set at a pitch to determine an initial pitch of the chute inreference to the tiltable table.

9. Apparatus of the character described comprising a vertically tiltabletable, a drum and a pair of rollers revolubly mounted upon said ta.-ble, a flexible-rigid chute gripped on opposite sides by the pair ofrollers, and having its contiguous end attached to and wound on thedrum, the other and free end of the chute extending out into space,guide means to establish and maintain the pitch of the chute inreference to the table, and means to brace the chute at any of itsdegrees of extension comprising at least one guy wire attached at oneend to the chute, and a drum on which the other end of 4said wire iswound.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising a verticallytiltable table, a revoluble drum and a pair of rollers mounted on saidtable, a casing affixed to the table, containing the drum and having anopening, a flexible-rigid chute |tightly gripped 'by the pair of rollersand having its contiguous end attached to and wound upon the drum, said.chute being movable in the casing opening, guide means located betweenthe casing and pair of rollers fixing the pitch of the other and freeend of the chute in reference to the table and in its position inreference to the pair of rollers, and guy means to assist in sustainingsaid free end of the chute, consisting of at least one guy Wire havingone of its ends attached to the chute, and a drum to which the other endof said wire is attached and wound, said drum being mounted upon thecasing thereby to follow all adjustments of the chute.

l1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a drum and a pair ofrollers, a flexiblerigid chute gripped by the rollers land having itscontiguous end wound on the drum, means for revolving the drum and therollers to extend or retract the other and free end of the chute, atable on which both the drum and rollers are mounted to provide a rmfoundation therefor, means supplying a horizontal axis to support thetable for tilting in the vertical plane, and means for accomplishing thetilting of the table comprising a gear quadrant xed .to the table and anoperable pinion in mesh with the teeth of said gear.

12. Apparatus of the character described come prising a single andunencumbered flexible-rigid chute of concave-convex cross-section, adrum to which one end of the chute is attached and on which said end iswound, actuating means for moving and gripping the chute thereby toextend the other and free end thereof straight out from said actuatingmeans, and then to rigidly hold said chute in the adjusted position, andmeans embodied in said free end of the chute whereby attachment can bemade to an external support to guard against inadvertent sagging under aload.

`13. In apparatus of the character described, a chute consisting of thinflexible material, being of concavo-convex cross section to impartrigidity thereto when extended, one end of said chute being slotted toafford a passage to and dene a pair of arms, and hook formations on theextremities of said arms for engagement with an external support to thuslaterally stabilize the chute at said slotted end.

14. In apparatus of the character described comprising a chute of thinflexible material being of concaveconvex cross section to impartrigidity thereto, means from which said chute is extensible so that itsfree end is held unsupported in space, and means strengthening the chutewhen made in unusual lengths. consisting of laminations underlying thechute and matching the concavo-convex cross section thereof.

l5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a drum and a. pairof rollers, said drum and rollers being revoluble, a flexible-rigidchute ltightly gripped by the rollers for extension and .with theconcavity of the chute to intercept said person.

WILLARD E. BLAIN.

